A Silent Prayer

 The fire is low tonight, Lady.

The others sleep easy enough.

Kern stays vigilant while asleep.

Terry mutters prayers even in his dreams.

The monk hears things none of us can hear.

And somewhere out there, something with too many teeth is watching our camp.

So I keep watch.

I used to think that was all faith was.

A man standing alone in the dark because somebody had to.

But the older I get, the more I think you stand watch too.

Not from some golden throne above the clouds.

You are in the wind moving through the pine needles.

In the owl that cries before danger comes.

In the doe that freezes and survives because she listened.

You never promised comfort.

Only the trail.

And the trail has been hard.

I have buried friends beneath cairns of stone.

I have walked through ruins where even the ghosts were afraid.

I have killed things I still see in my sleep.

Yet every morning the sun still finds the trees.

Maybe that is your lesson.

Not victory.

Not peace.

Endurance.

So I will endure a while longer.

Keep my feet quiet.

Keep my heart from growing cruel.

And if I must spill blood tomorrow, let it be for something worth protecting.

That is enough.

For now, that is enough.